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Trump Administration Proposes Rules Allowing Drones To Operate At Night, Over Populated Areas (reuters.com)
The Trump administration is proposing rules that would allow drones to operate over popular areas and end a requirement for special permits for night use. The goal is to "help speed commercial use of small unmanned aerial vehicles in the United States," reports Reuters. From the report: The proposals, drafted by the Federal Aviation Administration of the U.S. Transportation Department, come amid concerns about dangers that drones potentially pose to aircraft and populated areas. The FAA said that in developing the proposals its challenge was to "balance the need to mitigate the risk small unmanned aircraft pose to other aircraft and to people and property on the ground without inhibiting innovation." The FAA is proposing ending requirements that drone operators get waivers to operate at night. Through 2017, the FAA granted 1,233 waivers and "has not received any reports of (drone) accidents," it said. The FAA would require that drones have "an anti-collision light illuminated and visible for at least three statute miles," as well as testing and training.
Under the FAA's proposals, operators would be able to fly small unmanned aircraft weighing 0.55 pounds (0.25 kg) or less over populated areas without any additional restrictions. For drones weighing more than 0.55 pounds, however, a manufacturer would need to demonstrate that if an "unmanned aircraft crashed into a person, the resulting injury would be below a certain severity threshold." Those larger drones could not have exposed rotating parts that could lacerate human skin and could not operate over people if they have any safety defects, the FAA said. The FAA would prohibit operations of the largest drones over any open-air assembly of people. The report also mentions that the FAA is "proposing allowing discretionary waivers for operations over moving vehicles, for operations over people that would not otherwise meet the standards outlined in its proposal, and for those that do not meet its anti-collision lighting requirement."
Under the FAA's proposals, operators would be able to fly small unmanned aircraft weighing 0.55 pounds (0.25 kg) or less over populated areas without any additional restrictions. For drones weighing more than 0.55 pounds, however, a manufacturer would need to demonstrate that if an "unmanned aircraft crashed into a person, the resulting injury would be below a certain severity threshold." Those larger drones could not have exposed rotating parts that could lacerate human skin and could not operate over people if they have any safety defects, the FAA said. The FAA would prohibit operations of the largest drones over any open-air assembly of people. The report also mentions that the FAA is "proposing allowing discretionary waivers for operations over moving vehicles, for operations over people that would not otherwise meet the standards outlined in its proposal, and for those that do not meet its anti-collision lighting requirement."
People are going love that racket buzzing over their houses all night long...
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
Non-competes are pretty much DOA in California, regardless of the state they were signed in.
I don't trust atoms -- they make up stuff.
Currently, probably not much of an issue. But it brings to mind the Electric Scooter and Bicycle Rental debacles, where the companies attempted to rapidly permeate the urban walkspace. If you have ever flown at night ( or navigated a boat ) at night, the presence of an exponentially expanding sea of randomly moving lights will gradually deteriorate situational awareness - it is very very difficult to estimate distance and closure rate of point sources of light at night ( See Norwegian frigate collision ).
They need to figure out what that density is, and then work backwards from there, or and / or establish flight path corridors. Then they can hold something like spectrum auctions if there is some upper limit.
At this point, Trump is just trying to fuck as much shit up as possible before he's exfiltrated back to Russia in a submarine and lives out his life in a dacha paid for by his sponsors.
You just pitched Season 7 of The Americans ... Well done tovarich.
It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
Trump Administration Proposes Rules Forbidding Drones From Operating at Night
slashdot: stupid antitechnology and science trump getting in the way of technological progress..figures
How the plan was conceived:
(Think of the old Guinness commercials, with two old time guys talking to each other):
Guinness guy #1: "Almost all the problems between planes and drones have been when drones are SEEN in the vicinity of aircraft or airports."
Guinness guy #2: "Correct."
#1: "Yes, and drones are much HARDER TO SEE at night."
#2: "Again, correct."
#1: "So we'll fly drones at night. The planes and airports won't be able to see them, so there will NO LONGER be problems between planes and drones."
#2: "BRILLIANT!!"
Tens of millions of people in the U.S. drive automobiles and other vehicles every day. The potential for accidents, even fatal ones, is omnipresent. Operators must take driver education courses; they must be licensed; they must carry insurance; there are criminal penalties for reckless operation. Plus, there are rules: signs, designated lanes, speed limits, etc. Why should aerial drone operations be any different? Too many people are losing their fricking minds over the prospect of a sky filled with purposeful drones when that's exactly what we have on the ground, already. The technology is new but it's not the problem; the problem is how we humans determine its most beneficial use and, in the case of aerial drones, that requires regulation similar to that governing the operation of automobiles.
All over the country, the Dimtards are trying to close all the general aviation airports.
Like everything else, they are jealous and they want to prevent everybody else from enjoying life.
Damn nazis!
There are currently no drones on the market below the .55 pound limit that are serviceable for any sort of commercial use. The lightest drone capable of anything meaningful is the DJI Spark, which weights 10 ounces or 300 grams, 50 over the 250 gram limit. I'm sure DJI could produce a lighter drone to sneak under the limit, but they already had to sacrifice a lot of functionality (short flight time, only 2 axis gimbal, limited obstacle avoidance cameras) to get the Spark to 300 grams.
The important bit here is how many manufacturers work with the FAA to get drones above 250 grams certified.
Ratzo you still suck.
FAA bureaucrats should be at home during a government "shutdown".
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Spying in your widows at your wife or you children... all night every night.
If Trump is putting forth an idea like this then he's clearly and objectively a traitor working for Russia to destabilize the United States. Having drones flying all over the place at night will for sure start a civil war.
This allow innovative services to try out great new drone ideas.
Remove federal laws and make the USA great again.
Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
well, it's pretty much a given.. a guarantee, really, that all computer controlled 'drones' have at least one vulnerability or safety issue, with the firmware and software, the made-in-china-by-the-lowest-bidder hardware, the batteries, jammable radio communications, no n+1 redundancy at the very least, you name it. there's going to be at least one serious flaw.. and that's not even counting the fucking incompetence of most drone 'pilots'.
if you are flying 'drones' over people or over areas that are not entirely closed off to people or wildlife. you better bloody well have a certificate or license that says you're actually qualified to operate them, follow all the rules same as actual pilots (regarding intoxication, hours of work, even the fucking physicals and health requirements such as eyesight, etc), carry sufficient liability insurance, and have inspected and certified flying hardware.
That's nextdooramateurs, you worthless retard. I don't know how the amateurcreampies guy does it. He gets 90% of the chicks that you don't see cummed in anywhere else. Is he paying them a ton of money or what? I know his videos aren't fake because nobody on the planet could fake his stupid song-like moans as he pumps baby batter into these chicks. You never see his entire face, but if you watch enough of the videos, you know how thick headed he looks in real person. The upper arm barbed wire 90s thing tattoo says it all. And it isn't nearly as stupid as cum4k which, yes, I know they aren't trying to fool anyone, but if you're going to shoot up the chick with 4 ounces of lube every 30 seconds between camera cuts, maybe make it clear? Just a thought.
have enough battery power to power a light visible 3 miles away. reminds me of the time my bonehead friend rented us a house at the beach for the summer. he didnt notice that it had a nice ocean view and a nice view of the lighthouse! fun seeing that light come by every 45 seconds all night long!
That was funny. +1 for the humor.
I noticed it is nighttime in the US. If you were to go outside and look at the sky, you would see things that are millions of miles away. You can't see them at night. You'd also see about 100 times as many planes as you can see during the day. In a few hours, you'll be able to see the International Space Station.
You may have noticed in the summary they are required to be clearly visible from at least 3 miles, minimum. During the day, my drone is visible out to about 300-400 meters, or 0.25 miles max. So at minimum it's required to be visible at 12 times the distance it's visible during the day.
If you're not sure I'm right, go get yourself a milk jug or something and try looking at it from a mile away. Then at night glance around and notice you can clearly see the lights on the antenna tower 10 miles away. My friends and I discovered a Bic lighter is visible at almost a mile at night. We used that to show our position while camping in the mountains.
The draft proposal is at https://www.faa.gov/uas/programs_partnerships/DOT_initiatives/ .
Yes, but in the most awesome way possible. Also, don't hate me because you ain't me.
You are welcome on my lawn.
I accidentally wrote:
---
It's night time in the US.
If you were to go outside and look at the sky, you would see things that are millions of miles away. You can't see them at night.
---
That should of course be:
You can't see them DURING THE DAY.
Even fairly dim lights are visible at great distances at night, as long as it's above the horizon. They are visible at far greater distances than the same objects during the day.
They're gonna be issuing permits for flying drones over skylights.
The TFA starts:
The Trump administration on Monday proposed rules that would allow drones ...
This immediately primes a bunch of people to look for fault with the rules, and another bunch of people to ignore any possible faults with the rules. Why not say "The FAA on Monday ..."?
Is this something driven by political office holders/appointees, or is it just the FAA doing its job and modernizing its rules as best it can? Technically anything federal government does can be attributed to the Trump administration, but it is misleading to make this attribution unless the action was directed by someone at the Whitehouse.
The TFA does say
In 2017, President Donald Trump launched a program to expand testing of drones in what the White House said would “open the skies for delivery of life-saving medicines and commercial packages (and) inspections of critical infrastructure.”
This is some justification for bringing the administration into it, but without more information I'm left wondering how much influence this program had on the proposed rules. Does anyone have information to show a connection?
Quattuor res in hoc mundo sanctae sunt: libri, liberi, libertas et liberalitas.
You can't even fly a tiny DJI Spark with those weight restrictions. This is worthless.
What about "Peloisi"? Did you drone her?
No, actually you suck worse than a hooker with prosthetic teeth.
And you puke when you swallow.
So many opportunities for terrorists, so little time.
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.
We can already get a waiver that allows us to fly droves over populated areas that last a year by filling out a simple bit of paperwork...
This sounds like a reasonably well-thought out idea. Kudos to the current administration for drafting an intelligent idea.
It probably won't go anywhere. GOP presidents tend to do this. Pull a bunch of dumb crap and then they wonder why they lack the mojo to implement something intelligent.
Bush junior did this. One grudge war, re-introduced torture into our society, one irresponsible tax cut, VP shotgunned people in the face (wish I was kidding). At one point, a very large contingent of justice department officials nearly resigned en-mass just to make a point. Opened Guantanamo Bay, etc. etc. etc. After 6 years of crap, he tried to push a thoughtful, moderate, balanced, reasonable fair immigration bill and by then people were barely even paying attention to him.
Trump following same pattern. So much fecal matter spewing out of his mouth I can't even begin to list it. When his admin proposes something thoughtful, it's gonna get lost in the massive fart smell emanating from the administration.
Came to see formerly libertarian Slashdot mainly grouse at some level of sensible freedom being restored - was disappointed but not surprised.
Why are supposed technologists scared about drones flying at night?
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
"Those larger drones could not have exposed rotating parts that could lacerate human skin and could not operate over people if they have any safety defects"
Welp, all people have safety defects...so this isn't going to work Mr Trump, sawwy!
A 3D leering Trump mask on the bottom!
what is the definition on night in this proposal?
In my opinion it is a good initiative. Franky, I think Donald Trump is an old man, who is far from perfect. Still he is much better than those professional politicians, who surf on the populist hysteria. Including the one about the civil RPAS (UAVs).
The deaths happen mostly on the overcrowded roads, and the aerial deliveries can potentially free the roads. Not only in a city but also between cities.
Around here, to even operate within 150m of city limits, you must be a commercial entity. You must have staff that has been certified to fly drones over built-up areas. You must have a logbook on the equipment, so that it can be used in an investigation. You must have a documented number of flight hours every year.
When all that is in place, you can fly over a city if you filed a flight plan 24 hours before and it was not rejected. So it is easy the check if there is a permitted flight in the area, or if it is safe to shoot the unit down.
...in Gotham City. You really think those climbs are manned? And not once has the Joker been able to hack'em.
Care killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE CONSEQUENCES FOR YOUR LIES AND PROPAGANDA NAZI FAGGOT KEN DOLL
Filter error: Don't use so many caps. It's like YELLING. Filter error: Don't use so many caps. It's like YELLING.
1) people aren't inside the drones they are flying, so they don't bear the consequences of a collision like they do with a car they are driving
2) drones will increasingly not be piloted at all - the owner will set a couple waypoints and rely on "AI" to get it from A to B
I don't have shit buzzing over my house all night. That sounds like a real SHITHOLE COUNTRY you got there!
SAD.
... until someone hangs Claymores on 'em and sends 'em into a crowd.
You'll have the Secret Service knocking on your door in about 3, 2, 1...
Perfect. Then they can finally explain why it's ok for Trump to call on "the Second Amendment people" to stop Hillary.
I am not suggesting anyone #ASSASSINATE Trump. I am merely indicating that I am shocked it hasn't happened yet.
Drones are highly vulnerable. They depend on communication through the air with their operators. Once that communication brakes down, the operator loses control of the drone, and the drone becomes useless. If you have many people attacking the same drone, the operator will be outnumbered by those attacking the drone.
I actually meant to say yards instead of feet... look at this thread for example. Even if you managed to hit a drone, most drone bodies seems like they are flexible or tough enough plastic shells that it wouldn't really see any damage past 40 yards, clay shatters but I could see propeller blades just bending some under the partial hit from birdshot pellets that had spread out by that range (drone blades can take more than you would think as you can see in this video..
Check out this video of people trying to shoot down a drone with specially modified shotgun shells meant to take out drones - 3-5 shots at 70 ft. They work by using netting, more effective than birdshot...
Most drones people would be flying would be spending time a few hundred feet up at least. Maybe you could get it during the landing phase where the operator is trying to land it gently. But then if you are there, why not just shoot the operator if it's bothering you so much...
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley